Krysten Sinema posted an op-ed in tonight’s Washington Post that I’ll link to here, but not go through point-by-point. It’s the same claptrap we’ve heard from her and Republicans for a while, certainly anytime Democrats are in power—about the necessity of bipartisanship and protecting the minority voice and something about tradition. She points to bipartisanship’s victories:
Since I was elected to Congress, a bipartisan approach has produced laws curbing suicide among our troops and veterans, boosting American manufacturing, delivering for Native American communities, combating hate crimes, and protecting public lands.
Fine, but what bipartisanship did not deliver was a Covid relief package, nor will it deliver legislation that can help save democracy. McConnell already said no. Sen. Sinema’s main argument, expressed in her title, is that it’s a slippery slope and all kinds of bad shit could happen to federal programs without the filibuster’s protection. Similar to the block quote above, she cherrypicks “bad” examples but misses the friggin point that it all means zilch absent a functioning democracy.
Senator, if this outdated, racist Senate rule is so necessary, why doesn’t your state or any other use the federal model to protect against this tyranny of the majority you imagine? No, majority rules and so Republicans only here in Arizona are passing voter restrictions, as they are in Georgia, Texas, and potentially dozens of other places. You don’t demand those votes to be bipartisan.
In other words, to restrict voter rights only needs a majority, but to protect those rights requires a super-majority. It’s easier to attack our right to vote than protect it. And this is the system Sen. Sinema champions.
Two new 30-second ads are running in Arizona, part of a $1.5 million campaign.
If you emailed the Senator’s office, you got the same reply they always send, thanking your for your comment and saying how they’re really busy but they’ll get back to you. They never do. But first she says she’s “proud to serve the people of Arizona.” She shouldn’t be, because she doesn’t; a majority here support filibuster reform. Do your job!